Harness connector for looms



O. V. PAYNE HARNESS CONNECTOR FOR LOOMS Oct. 28, 1941.

Filed Dec. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 RV PAYNE 64M. 4.

A TTOR N E\ NVENTOR QSCA Oct 28, W41. 4 I o. v. PA YNE 2,260,788

HARNESS CONNECTOR FOR:LOOMS 7 Filed Dec. 9, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F u/ 1 I FIB-11 [NVENT-OR Y OSCAR J. PAYNE 8.2 '7:

ATTORN E Y Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARNESS CONNECTOR FOR LOOMS Oscar V. Payne, Leicester, Mass., assignor to Crompton & Knowles--Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 9, 1940, Serial No. 369,177

12 Claims. Cl.-139--88) This; invention relates to improvements in har- T ness connectors for looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide a connector whichcan be readily adjusted withoutidisconnecting the harness frames from their actuating harness jack levers.

Fig. 3 is a detailedenlarged view of a portion of Fig. 2 with one of the springs shown in section,

Figs.- 4 and'5 ,aretransversesections on lines 4-4 and 55, respectively, of Fig. 3,

Fig. 6 is a side elevation taken in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 21, showing the attaching hook The harness frames of a loom are generally attached by flexible connections to harness jacks or the like which move from one to another of two extreme positions under control of pattern mechanism. The lack levers have a fixed stroke and it is desirable to be able to adjust the harness frames without altering the jack lever stroke. Devices to accomplish this result as heretofore used have generally required the weaver to sup-' port the harness frame while making the adjustment.

.It is an important object of my present invention to provide a connector which can be kept in the hands of the weaver throughout the adto provide a harness connector formed of two longitudinally extending .parts which are held together in'hinged' relation by springs or the like but which can be separated against the action of the springs by a relative angular motion preparatory to a lengthwise adjustment of the parts with respect to each other. The springs preferably surround the parts and the entire connector including the springs is preferably so formed that it has no horizontal dimension greater than the spacing of the harness frames. The frames are therefore free to rise and fall without causing interference of the connectors without regard to the angular position of the latter with respect to the frames to which they are attached.

. With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and'set forth. In the accompanying drawings, wherein I have shown two forms of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic front elevation of a loom showing the location of my present inven tion, Y

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the preferred form of: my invention,

and the lower partof-the connector in section,

Fig. 7 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 1+1 of Fig. 1,

,Fig..8 is a front elevation of a modified form ofmy harness connector,

Fig. 9 is a view of the long .rod element used in'the modified form of the invention,

Fig. 10 is. a plan view of-one of the two shee metal plates prior to. bending,

Fig. 11 is aview similar to Fig. the short rod element,

Fig. 12 is a combined. view showing the two top and .bottom. shell sections afterv being bent to semiecylindrical form,

Fig-13 .is a detail of the upper end of the modified form of.connectoras seen in Fig. Band indicatingthe manner-in which the harness cord is connectedto the uppersection of. the modified form ofconnector, i Fig- 14 is a side view lookingin the direction of arrow- M, Fig; 13, parts being in section,

Fig. 15 is'av detail view showing the lower end of; the connector as'seenin Fig. 8 and indicating themanner in' which the harness frame hook engaging member is securedthereto,

' Fig. 16 is a side View taken in the direction of arrow [6, Fig. 15, parts being in section, Fig.1? is an enlarged section taken on line Il-ll of Fig. 8, showing the connector in normal force-transmitting condition, and Fig. 18 is aview similar to Fig. 17 showingthe two. parts .of the modified connector separated to permit longitudinal adjustment.

Referring. to the drawings, the loom frame 10 includesyarches II which support harness lifting jacks l2, one. of which is shown. The warp threads not shown are controlled by harness frames 13 which rise and fall according to the 9 but showing position of the jacks by forces transmitted throughflexible connections designated at [4. These connectionsmay be of any desired form and are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1 as leadingfrom the jacks'to. an end set of sheaves l5 and thence other sets of sheaves I6 and H. The lower part of the connections l4 extend downwardly as at l8 and are attached to the harness frames by my improved. form of harness connector designated generally at C.

The lower part of the harness frames are conat all times.

nected to springs |'9 the lower ends of which are attached to a harness spring stand 20 fixed with respect to the loom frame. The springs pull the harness frames down while the jacks |2 lift them, and the connections 14 are therefore taut The showing in Fig. 1 is merely diagrammatic and the use of my invention is not limited to the form of loom or harness control mechanism set forth herein.

In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 to 7 the two separable parts are pref- V erably so formed as to be adapted for die casting, whereas the modified form is preferably constructed of steel parts welded together. In the preferred form the connector includes a top section 25 and a bottom section 26 which are slmilar to each other in several respects. The upper section 25 has the top 21 thereof of cylindrical form, a portion of which is knurled as at 28 to afford a hand hold for the user. The lower part of the section 25 is formed with a plurality of teeth 30 which are preferably equally spaced and define between them a series of notches 3|. The lower section 26 has teeth 32 to enter the notches 3|, and notches 33 between the teeth 32 receive the teeth 36 of the upper section 25. The bottom of the lower section 26 is cylindrical as at 35 and also has a knurled section 36.

The upper section 25 is formed with a semi-cylindrical rib 4|] which enters a corresponding groove 4| in the section 26. The rib and groove afford means for a limited pivotal or hinging motion of the parts with respect to each other. The two sections are held together by upper and lower springs 42 and 43, respectively, which are preferably of sheet form curled as suggested in Fig. 4 to have one end overlap the other end. The double thickness of spring 42 resulting from the overlapping of spring 42 is located in a notch 45 formed in the upper end of section 26, whereas the double thickness of the lower spring 43 is located in a similar notch 46 formed near the bottom of the upper section 25. Should the springs turn with respect to the sections to such position as will move the overlapping sections out of the grooves 45 and 46, the extent by which the overlapping section projects beyond the outline of the adjacent section will be very small and afford little or no interference on the part of opposite motions of adjacent connectors. The notches require the springs to move longitudinally with their respective sections.

In order that the cord |8 may be attached to the upper section, its metallic core '48 is uncovered and. embedded in the top of section 25, the latter having an extending sleeve 49 which preferably surrounds the lower end of the fibrous sheath 56 which surrounds the strands of core 48. In order that attaching means may be provided for the lower end of the connector a wire loop 5| is molded into the bottom of section 26 as su gested in Fig. 6. Loop 5| receives the hooks 52 which extend upwardly from the tops of the harness frames.

Under normal conditions the teeth 3|] and 32 will be held in their corresponding notches by the natural tendency of the cylindrical springs to contract, hence a lifting force can be transmitted from the top to the bottom of the connector. Under these normal conditions there will be a space 55 between the adjacent longitudinal edges 56 and 51, respectively, of the sections 25 and 26 which lie outside the hinged or pivotal connection defined by rib 40 and groove 4|.

When it is desired to effect an adjustment in the position of a harness frame the associated connector will be held by the weavers hands at the knurled sections 28 and 36 and then give a twisting movement which effects an angular separation of sections 25 and 26 from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5. Rib 46 roll-s in groove 4| during. this angular motion and there is an accompanying expansion of the springs 42 and 43. Also, the teeth 30 and 32 move out of their notches. While still grasping the two sections 25 and 26 the weaver then effects a. longitudinal relative motion of these two parts to the desired position, causing the rib 40 to slide in groove 4|, or sliding edges 56 and 51 on each other, depending upon the amount of twist given the sections 25 and 26. The twisting strain is then relieved and the springs cause a reverse motion of the two sections around their hinged axis to reestablish connections between the teeth and notches of the two parts in their new position.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the notches extend from the rib 40 or the groove 4|, as the case may be, to the periphery of the associated sections, but I do not wish to be limited to notches so formed. The teeth and notches in this preferred form of the invention are preferably though not necessarily formed by a die casting operation.

Fig. 7 shows the relationship between the several harness frames and the connectors. In this figure I have shown parts of three adjacent harness frames which are separated by a narrow space needed for clearance when the frames move vertically with respect to each other. The center to center distance of the harness frames may be that designated at a in Fig. 7, but the maximum diameter of the connector will not exceed a and preferably is slightly less, even though the overlapped portions of the springs should fall outside of their grooves 45 and 46. The purpose of the grooves is to require movement of each spring with the associated section so that in all longitudinal adjustments the springs will be operative to hold the end of each section close to some portion of the other section.

In the modified form of the invention I construct the connector sections of steel parts welded together, each section including a rod welded to a substantially semi-circular sheet steel section having one edge toothed and the opposite edge straight.

The upper section 66 of the modified form of connector includes a short rod element 6| shown in Fig. 11, while the lower section 62 includes a a long rod element 63 shown in Fig. 9. Rod 6| has welded thereto a semi-cylindrical shell 64 while the lower long rod 63 is welded to a similar shell 65. These semi-cylindrical shells are of similar form and each is preferably made from a strip of sheet metal, as steel, one edge of which is provided with saw-teeth 61 to enter angular notches 68 formed on the other shell.

In the first step of the manufacture of these shells they will be formed with teeth 61 defining notches 68 along one longitudinal edge, the other edge being straight, as shown in Fig. 11. Each section is. then curved along a. longitudinal axis to have a substantially semi-cylindrical form, the shell 64 having the form indicated at b Fig. 12 while the other shell 65 is of the form designated at c in the same figure.

Spaced burrs I0 are then struck outwardly near one end of each shell, as indicated in Fig. 12. Rod 6| is then welded to its shell 64 with a portion thereof projecting beyond the shell, and similarly the long rod 63 will then be welded to its shell 65 with an end thereof projecting, 'asindicated in Fig.8. x I

The two shells are then placed together so that each fits partly around the rod elementlof the other and springs H and I2 are placedas indicated in Fig. 8 between their respective burrs 10. Spring H is thus held against longitudinal'motion relatively to shell 65 while being'slidable along shell 64, and similarly, spring 12 is held to and is slidable along shell 65. These springs are of the. same form as those'shown in the preferred form and their longitudinal edges overlap as suggested in Figs. 17 and 18.

Asshown in. Fig. 17 the left edge 15 of the shell 64 abuts the corresponding'edge 16 of the other shell andthe teeth 61 of each section'enter the notches 68 of the other section, as shown in Fig; 8, to transmit a liftingstrain from the top of the connector to the harness below.

When it is desired to effect a longitudinal adjustment of the two sections of the modified connector they will be given a relative angular motion similar to that described for the preferred form sufficient to move the teeth to disengaging'position, or to the position shown in Fig. 18. During this angular motion the contacting parts of edges 15 and I6 serve as a pivot and the rods 6| and 63 moveia slight distance away from their opposite shells, as shown in Fig. 18. The contacting parts of edges 15 and 16 are then slid along each other longitudinally to the desired adjustment, after which the weaver relieves the twisting strain and the springs return the parts to their holding position to cause certain of the teeth to enter notches e opposite them.

In this modified form of the invention the strands 8B of core l8 are held-in the upper end of section 60 by havingthelatte'r forced around them, as indicated inFigs. 13 and 14; A similar method of attaching the loop 82 to the'lower end of the part 62 may be employed, the two ends 83 of the loop projecting into the rod 63 and held by pressing portions of rod63' around them, as suggested in Figs. 15' and 16.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple harness connector which can be adjusted while connected to the harness frame and the actuating jack lever, theadjustment being effected'by'aslightrangular relative motion of the two'sections to disengage the teeth, after which a longitudinal movement of the partsrelatively to each othercan be made. It will be seen that the springs'are thin and so located as not to materially increase the diameter of the connector. It will also be seen that the parts hinge on each other and'that the relative sliding motion is along the hinge. It will further be noted that the greatest transverse dimension of the connector is less than the distance between the centers of the adjacent harness frames. In both forms of the inven'- tion the two springs serve to hold the sections together in any longitudinally adjusted relationship and each spring moves with its correspond ing section and slides along the other section.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from'the spirit and scope of the i invention and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. A harness connector comprising two parallel elongated members, the. connector beingadjustable asto length. by a combined relative&

angular motion of the members about an axis extending'longitudinally of the connector followed by a relative longitudinal motion of said members, interengaging means. extending along adjacent edges of the members to prevent relative longitudinal motion of said members when thelatter are in' normal angular position, resilient means tending to hold the members in normal angular position and yieldable when said members'move to abnormal angular position, and mutually engaging means on the members constituting a longitudinally extending sliding connection for the members spaced from the interengaging means and about which the members are movable angularly with respect to each other in a plane perpendicular to the length of the connector-and" along which said members move relatively to each other for longitudinal adjustment when said members are moved to abnormal angular position against the action of said resilient means.

2. In a harness connector having two substantially parallel mutually engaging members, said connector to be adjustable as to length by the application to said members of opposed angular and longitudinal forces, interengaging" means formed by movement in a plane perpendicular to the length of the connector to prevent'longitudinal relative movement when the members are in normal angular position, other means on said members spaced from said means and having interengaging longitudinally extending sliding surfaces, and resilient means tending to hold these members in normal angular position, said surfaces constituting a pivot extending longitudinally of the connector when oppositely directed angular forces are exerted on the members to separate the latter angularly along adjacent edges of said members on one sideiof the connector to abnormal position against the action of resilient means and the latter holding said surfaces in contact with each other when the members move longitudinally with respect to each other as the'result of exertion on the members of longitudinally opposed forces.

3. In a harness connector for a loom, a pair of longitudinally extending substantially parallel members, means on said members extending along one side of the connector to hold the members against relative longitudinal movement when said members are in normal relative angular position, interengaging surfaces formed on and extending longitudinally of said members removed from said means and constituting a l pivot around which said members are movable in a plane perpendicular to the lengthof the connector and relatively to each other to an abnormal angular position to disengage said means'and also constituting a sliding connection for longitudinal relative motion of said members, and resilient means to hold the members in normal relative angular position and yieldable when said members move to abnormal rela tive'angular position and maintain said surfaces in contact with each other during relative sliding movement of the members when the latter are in abnormal angular position.

4'. In a harness connector for a loom having a harness frame and a harness lifting cord, a pair of elongated sections one of which is connected to the harness frame and the other of which is connected to' the harness cord, teeth formed along one edge of each section to enter notches formed in one edge of the other section, resilient means tending to hold the teeth in the notches, and means on said sections having surfaces removed from the teeth and notches to engage each other and constitute a pivot around which the two sections are movable angularly with respect to each other to disengage the teeth from their notches and along which said parts are slidable for longitudinal adjustment.

5. In a harness connector for a loom, a connector member having an elongated body along one edge of which is formed a series of teeth spaced from each other to define notches, a second member also having a body along one edge of which is formed a series of teeth to enter the notches of the first member, notches being formed between the teeth of said second member to receive the teeth of the first member, interengaging means formed on edges of said members removed from the teeth thereof constituting a pivot around which the members are movable angularly with respect to each other to disengage the teeth of each member from the notches of the other member and along which said members are slidable relatively to each other for longitudinal adjustment when the teeth are out of their notches, and resilient means normally holding the teeth in their respective notches and yielding when the members move angularly with respect to each other and tending to hold said interengaging means in contact with each other during relative sliding of one member with respect to the other longitudinally.

6. In a harness connector for a loom, a pair of longitudinally extending members each having a set of teeth along one edge thereof to enter notches formed along the corresponding edge of the other member, means defining interengaging surfaces on said members removed from the teeth and notches and defining a pivot around which the members are movable angularly with respect to each other to disengage the teeth from the notches, said members being movable longitudinally with respect to each other by relative sliding movement of said surfaces, and resilient means tending to hold the teeth in their respective notches and maintain said surfaces in convtact with each other during relative sliding of the members.

'7. A harness connector having a pair of longitudinally extending members, a set of aligned teeth extending along one edge of each member spaced to define notches for receiving the teeth of the other member, a rib extending along one of said members spaced from the teeth of the latter, the other member having a groove spaced from the teeth thereof to receive said rib, and the resilient means normally holding the teeth in their respective notches and the ribin said groove, said rib and groove constituting a pivot around which the members are movable angularly with respect to each other against the action of the resilient means to move the teeth out of their respective notches, and said rib and groove constituting a sliding connection for relative longitudinal adjustment of the members when their teeth are disengaged.

8. A loom harness connector having a pair of longitudinally extending substantially parallel members adjustable longitudinally with respect to each other to vary the length of the connector, each member including an elongated sheet metal shell bent to substantially semi-cylindrical form and having a set of spaced teeth along one longitudinal edge and a bearing surface along the other longitudinal edge, a rod welded into one end of each shell to engage the other shell,

resilient means surrounding the shells to hold the same together in normal angular relationship with the teeth of the two strips engaging each other, said shells being movable apart angularly around the engaging parts of said bearing surfaces as a pivot against the action of the resilient means to disengage the teeth and the shells then being movable longitudinally with respect to each other by relative sliding motion of the bearing surfaces.

9. A loom harness connector having a pair of longitudinally extending substantially parallel members adjustable longitudinally with respect to each other to vary the length of the connector, each member including a semi-cylindrical shell formed of sheet metal bent to semi-cylindrical form, each shell having a set of teeth along one longitudinal edge thereof and having a bearing surface on the other longitudinal edge, a rod welded to the interior of each shell and extending along a portion of the other shell, and spring means surrounding said shells tending to hold the teeth of one shell in engagement with the teeth of the other shell, said shells being separable angularly against the action of the spring means around the contacting portions of the bearing surfaces as a pivot and being thereafter movable longitudinally with respect to each other by relative sliding of said bearing surfaces to vary the length of the connector. I

10. A loom harness connector having a pair of longitudinally extending members adjustable longitudinally with respect to each other to vary the length of the connector, a pair of shells formed of elongated sheet metal strips bent to semi-cylindrical form, each shell having a set of teeth extending along one longitudinal edge for engagement with the teeth of the other shell, and each shell having on the edge thereof opposite the teeth a longitudinally extending bearing surface, a guide rod welded to the interior of each shell for engagement with the other shell, a pair of springs surrounding the shells, one spring for each shell, each spring being held against longitudinal motion relatively to the corresponding shell and said springs being yieldable when the shells are moved apart angularly around contacting portions of said bearing surfaces as a center to disengage the teeth and said shells thereafter being slidable along the bearing surfaces relatively to each other to vary the length of the connector.

11. A loom harness connector comprising a pair of longitudinally extending members, an elongated substantially semi-cylindrical sheet metal shell forming part of each member, each shell having along one longitudinal edge thereof a set of teeth for engaging the corresponding teeth on a longitudinal edge of the other member, said shells having other longitudinal edges for mutual engagement, and spring means surrounding the shells tending to hold the teeth of each shell in engagement with the teeth of the other shell and tending to hold the shells in the form of a cylinder with the bearing surfaces of each shell engaging the bearing surface of the other shell, said shells being movable angularly with respect to each other against the action of the spring means and around the contacting portions of said bearing surfaces as a pivot to disengage the teeth and said shells thereafter being movable longitudinally with respect to each other by slid-' ing action of the bearing surface of one shell along the bearing surface of another shell.

12. A harness connector comprising two par.-

lengthwise of the connector around which the members are movable relatively to each other against the action of said resilient means to separate said interengaging means, after which said members are movable longitudinally with respect to each other by relative sliding of said mutually engaging means to adjust the length of the connector.

OSCAR V. PAYNE. 

